Volunteering is Enriching

KUCHING, Monday – Outside of prize winning or free tickets to the festival, there is one reasonable option available to all music fans; volunteering. It’s not wrong to enjoy free music this way, but doing something you’d love, the money will seem less relevant.

For the next two weeks to come at the Borneo Jazz, Rose Au has embarked on the sixth year as a volunteer. She not only did this in Miri for the Borneo Jazz but Sarawak Cultural Village in Kuching has also become her playground during Rainforest World Music Festival.

Really feel glad to be called back to help Borneo Jazz again this year and Rose will always make a return every year, for the love of this wonderful Jazz event that she has contributed in building from scratch in Miri.

Retired lawyer, but now teaching tour-guides, Rose Au Nyat Jun or Rose Au as she is usually known really enjoys doing things she loves. She found volunteering work as something that is very interesting to do in life.

“Volunteering is enriching, being given an opportunity to learn new skills, share and train first time volunteers. Not all paid jobs are necessarily fun jobs, volunteering is unique, rewarding to be part of Borneo Jazz - our State’s growing festivals”, says Rose.

Rose has been freelancing as a DJ with Radio Television Malaysia (RTM) for 20 years and used to present “Just Jazz” with RTM for many years. She’s been in the tourism-related industry for 13 years and it naturally follows that she loves to be involved in tourism. During Borneo Jazz, she will be assigned as the liaison officer to the performing bands normally of a foreign country. Very familiar with Sarawak’s tourism product is an added advantage to her task, as she can play well the part of an Ambassador for the state tourism.

“Music lovers should come over to Miri next month. Borneo Jazz offers a very charming ambience, beautiful garden setting, people are ever ready to help and there is good food. Not many places in the region have such mixes!, she added.

Borneo Jazz is organized by Sarawak Tourism Board. The volunteer program at the festival provides a learning platform for all the volunteers. Although ideal attributes will vary from role to role, all volunteers must be able to conduct themselves in line with the Festival’s core values, which is integrity and teamwork.

Running over the weekend 9-10 May at the Parkcity Everly Hotel in Miri, Borneo Jazz promises two days of fine jazz music with great food and a craft bazaar at a very beautiful beach resort ambience. The festival will be featuring bands from countries never featured before and also bands having repertoires that are unique. The performing bands will cover a wide range of jazz influences with participating jazz bands from Georgia, Germany, Cuba, Martinique, Indonesia, United Kingdom, Malaysia as well as Sarawak’s own jazz artist who has established well in the music circuit in China.

Pre-sale promotional tickets are still available at only RM50 for adult single entry and RM95 for a 2-day pass. This offer is valid until 8^th May and can be purchase online at www.jazzborneo.com . Child ticket promotional offer is only RM25 and RM45 for a 2-day pass. After the promotional period, door sale tickets will be RM70 for a day adult pass and RM130 for a 2-day pass. Children tickets at the gate will be RM30 for a day and RM50 for 2 days.

Rose Au